Apparatus for continuously marking metal objects



Jan. 1,v 1952 W s, MILLER 2,580,574

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MARKING .METAL OBJECTS Filed March 28, 1949 hl /f Illu Patented Jan. 1, i952 APPARATUS FOR CONTINUoUsLY MARKING METAL OBJECTS William S. Miller, Youngstown, Ohio, assigner of fifty per cent to `George Lubic, Youngstown,

ApplicatioMarch 2s, 1949, serial No. 83,864`

` This invention relates to marking devices and more particularly to a-device for continuously marking metal objects such as pipe strip and the like as it is produced.

The principal object of the invention is the' provision of apparatus for continuously marking metal objects. I

` A further object of the invention is the provision of a device having removable and replaceable marking elements.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for continuously marking metal objects and incorporating adjustable tensioning means. l

A still further object ofthe invention is the 2 Claims. (Cl. 101-5) provision of apparatus for continuously marking metal objects and incorporating readily removable rotatable marking element assemblies.

The apparatus for continuously marking metal objects disclosed herein has been designed to provide a simple, economic and eilicient means of continuously applying identifying indicia to metal objects such `as pipe strip and the like asthe same are produced in the mill. Itis well known that it is desirable to identify metal articles and particularly pipe continuously along the length thereof so that the pipe. after having been placed in use, may always be identified as to the producer, the order number, date of production, etc. In the past such information has been stenciled upon the lengths of pipe after they have been completed which is a slow expensive process and frequently omitted with the result that the pipe is shipped and used with no identifying marking thereon.

The present invention avoids such objectionable practice as it enables the pipe to be continuously marked as it is formed and the marking device itself may be readily changed to provide different marking elements whenever desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a front view with parts broken away and parts in cross section of the apparatus for continuously marking metal objects.

Figure 2 is a side view with parts broken away and parts in cross section of the apparatus for continuously marking metal objects.

By referring `to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular it will be seen that a portion of a mounting bracket I0 is illustrated and secured to a tubular body member II which is positioned vertically over the path of the metal object to be marked, such as a pipe I2. The tubular body member IIv has a-guide member I3 positioned therein, the upper end of which is provided with a thread-pattern I4 and engaged in a nutI5 which in turn rests on the upper end oi the tubular body member II. The lower end of the guide I3 extends downwardly and out of the tubular body member I I and the guide member I3, which is tubular, encloses a T headed bolt I6 the upper end of which is provided with a thread pattern I1 which engages a nut I8 which in turn rests upon the upper end ofthe guide member I3 lheretofore referred to.` I I i A clevis I9 is positionedover the T headed bolt I6 and a coil spring 20 is positioned between the upper surface of the'clevis I9 and the lower surface of the tubular body member II. The guide I3 is provided with a plurality of threaded openings 2I and the bottom of the tubular body member II is notched as at 22 so that an. adjusting bolt 23 may be positioned in one of the openings 2| and the body member II in turn positioned thereon. The arms of the clevis I9 have oppositely disposed openings 24-24 therein and carry a removable shaft 25 which in turn has a composite marking wheel secured thereto.

The composite marking wheel includes a pair of disc-like members 26 and 21, the disc-like member 26 having an annular channel 28 formed therein and an annular rib 29 formed thereon and in the area of the channel 28. A plurality of marking elements 30, each of which has a suitable letter or number forming a raised portion thereof and extending beyond the periphery of the disc-like members 26 and 21, are clamped between the discs 26 and 21 in the annular channel 28 and with cut out areas in their sides registering with the annular rib 29. The disc 26 is provided with a plurality of radially spaced drilled and tapped openings 3I and the disc 21 is provided with a matching plurality of drilled openings forv the reception of a plurality of bolts 32 which hold the marking wheel assembly together. It will thus be seen that when a metal object such as the pipe I2 is emerging from its forming apparatus and is heated so that the marking elements 30 may impress their several characters thereinto, the device may be positioned in proper ensagement with the pipe I2 by adjusting the guide I3 and the T headed bolt I6 vertically by means oi the adjustment nuts I5 and I8, respectively For various sizes of pipes, further adjustment may be made to the vertical height of the assembled apparatusby shifting the ad,]'ustment-,bolt234 with respect tovthe severalV threadedlopenings 21| invfth'e guide I3.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art` that the marking wheel assembly comprising the discs 26 and 21 and the marking elementsV 301 are always engaged upon the metal object IZ with" proper tension due to theDroVisionfof/thecoil spring 2U and the unusual. adjustability of# theseveral parts of the device with respect to one another.

In Figure 2 of the drawings a side elevation-of" the apparatus is disclosed and by referring. there to it will be observed that the pipe i2 moves from oneside.r toft'he': other' beneath nthe markingjwheel assemblyy of the -discs 26 and-21 and that each of the markingl elements .30de taperedso. that they. may bepositionedi in registry betweenV the discs 2-6 andf211to `complete the markingI wheel assem bly-g as shown.-

It will:r beiv obvious that4 when itv isi desiredto changefthe-marking., the tensionfmay be relieved onthe,devicje and the shaft 25l temporarily, refmove'd? to permita new marking Wheel1 assembly; tobe positionedinthe device` Y It willgthusbeseen that the several-objects` of. the invention are.- met by the. construction disclosed,v herein and. that a4 simple,- efcienty and easily changeable markingj device has: beenV disclosed whieh isparticularly adaptable formark ing.desirableindicia-onmetalfarticles.

Having thus de,s'cribed-my invention. whatl claimis: Y

L; Apparatus for continuously marking; metal objects comprising a tubular supportmember; a tubularV guidel member movablypositioned in. said tubulan support member; an headed bolt movably positionednsaid tubular guidefmember and means adjustably securing said tubular guide member to said tubular support member, a clevis w ing means disposed between the said tubular support memberV andthe said clevis, means adjustably; positioning the said tubular guide in the said tubular support and means adjustably positioningathe said'v'l'- headed,boltiinithesaiditubular guide, a.; marking wheel wcarriedrby;y saidtclevisffor rotatablel engagement. with. anL article, to,A be marked. Y.

- f WILLIAMSf IslIILLEnl REFERENCES CI'REU- The following.- references are ofs record in the meY of this,` patent:

UNiTED. y STATES; PATENTS Number; Name Date ;2-91? 'Ere'at- Jan.V 27, 1891 1,443 ,164 Bracken J'an'. 2&'19231 1,7%','7'4l5 Ackerman Mar. i7; 1931 1,85751661 Speicher May IOT;v 1932` 1,96512'76-Y Barghausenf- July- 3, 1934i 2,317,861'- S'peiclieiff i Apr. 2?;1943 25,357,797! Hauer Sept; 12; 19447 FIQREIGrIIv PATENTS,

Numben (.lountryr Date:

Great Bri-taint a Nova, 28j 19,29.A 

